A while ago, someone posted here about an herb or supplement that makes hair darker... I don't mean rosemary. I think it was said that Indian women take it (not sure, though). I'm asking because my mom gets her hair dyed once a month to cover the gray, and I'm looking for a natural alternative for her. So tell me, does this herb make gray hair brown again? Or is there some other herb/supplement that does?

Persephone

February 14th, 2004, 08:31 AM

Are you thinking of henna?

Dvips

February 14th, 2004, 08:37 AM

Hi Moonstone,

I believe some people here have used Black Walnut extract. Some others have mentioned coffee (not an herb, I know, but I thought you might be interested anyway.)

Thanks for your suggestions. I believe what I'm thinking of was something to be swallowed, not something topical. I'll look into the black walnut extract, though. I've told my mom about henna before, and she didn't seen too interested. I'll look at that other post, too.

Dvips

February 14th, 2004, 08:55 AM

I believe what I'm thinking of was something to be swallowed, not something topical.

Oops.. sorry 'bout that. Good luck with your quest!

- Dvips

charlyee

February 14th, 2004, 08:57 AM

Hi Moonstone,

I have tried Black Walnut extract on my hair and did not give any gray coverage. In fact I have an unopened, food grade Black Walnut Extract that I can send to you for the price of postage, if you want to give it a try.

Let me know.

Take care

Dulci

February 14th, 2004, 09:02 AM

I remember discussing something like this before. I think it was Anne? that did some research on it, maybe she'll pop into the thread soon.

Oh I found it I think! Chinese Herb He Shou Wu

http://www.nuhairproducts.com/articles/article_002.htm

Dulci

February 14th, 2004, 09:15 AM

ok, the other name for it is Fo-Ti, here's another link:
http://www.healthymagnets.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/polygonumroot.htm?E+scstore

Just my :twocents: , don't take the fo-ti, my doctor asked me to stop taking it, he did some research, apparently there are reports of unpleasant and risky side effects.

I do know that the herb bhringaraj will keep dark hair dark. It's in a shampoo I use and it does work. It's toned down the red in my hair.

She can also try PABA, it's supposed to ward off gray and some have reported it's reversed the gray.

Here's an excerpt from a great article I found on the web:

Also used traditionally for hair darkening and general hair care is the small annual plant, Eclipta alba. It grows commonly throughout the plains of India and is commonly used in the form of a hair oil for healthy, long black hair. Eclipta alba is known in traditional Siddha texts as Mahakanni or as Bhringaraj in Sanskrit. The herb is rich in naphthaquinones which in addition to improving the general structure of the hair are effective colourants. The presence of flavonoids stimulates the circulation of the scalp generally improving the rate of hair growth and minimising hair loss.

The SaraCare shampoo I use has the herb in it. Sarah has gone out of business but I can still get the shampoo for you if you want.

PM me and I'll send you the rest of the article.

HTH Moonstone :D

Anne

Dulci

February 15th, 2004, 06:15 AM

oohhhh ok, thanks for the heads-up on Fo-Ti Anne! And now that you mention it, I've got some old Linda Clark and Adele Davis books, they mentioned PABA taken internally to gradually return hair to its original color.

Anne

February 15th, 2004, 06:20 AM

oohhhh ok, thanks for the heads-up on Fo-Ti Anne! And now that you mention it, I've got some old Linda Clark and Adele Davis books, they mentioned PABA taken internally to gradually return hair to its original color.

;)

I think Longred is taking it.

It's in my multi hair vitamin and I seem to remember something about it in the Juiceman's Power of Juicing as well. I know you juice..do you have that book, Dulci?

By the way, I think your silvers are lovely ;)

Dulci

February 15th, 2004, 06:39 AM

Thank you Anne! :P

I wonder if there is any PABA in the Flintstone chewable vitamin I take (when I remember)? LOL :D

I don't have the Juiceman's book, I've got Jensens' "Foods that Heal." Hmmm, I don't see anything in the index about Hair or PABA. I haven't been juicing lately, it's too cold! :o I like to drink juices when it's hot outside.

Anne

February 15th, 2004, 07:05 AM

Dulci, I think you've got something there ;) Fred did have a head of thick, dark hair.

Dulci

February 15th, 2004, 07:12 AM

Dulci, I think you've got something there ;) Fred did have a head of thick, dark hair.
:rollin:

LongRed

February 15th, 2004, 08:42 AM

Yes, I am taking PABA and I do
notice less occurances of a gray hair
popping up. (I'm not grey yet, I just
get an occasional sprig)
I have only been taking the vitamin for
about a month and I'm sure it needs to be
a while for it to "soak" in.
:D

Hairstorm

February 15th, 2004, 12:00 PM

Dulci, I think this is the first time I've seen your hair; it's sooo beautiful! :D

Moonstone

February 15th, 2004, 12:13 PM

Oh, wow, I wasn't expecting so many replies!

The He Shou Wu/Fo-Ti was what I was thinking of, but if it has side effects, then I guess it's not worth it.

And, erm, can someone explain to me what PABA is?

Thanks!

Dulci

February 15th, 2004, 01:34 PM

Hi Moonstone!

PABA is Para-aminobenzoic acid, like a type of B vitamin.

I don't dare quote you out of my 1965 copy of Adelle Davis' "Let's Get Well," but here's a link I found that describes it: http://www.vitacost.com/science/hn/Supp/PABA.htm
That should be more up to date anyway.

It's still interesting about the Chinese herb, a lot of the links I read said that many Chinese people take it in tonic form every day, and have for centuries!
and Thank You J12, that was a messy bun I was doing to show off my swap-fairy hairsticks. :P Here's a photo taken over a year ago for a project we did on air-dried, no product, no combing hair typing. (It's time I did another one LOL)